Richmond American tells commission it will explore plot changes and more single‑story homes

Representatives for Richmond American Homes told the commission they recognize the community’s concerns about the raised grade and the visual impacts it creates for adjacent Copperleaf homes and that they are willing to adjust lot placement and type selection to reduce harm.

“We would be happy to adjust our development plan,” the Richmond American representative said, offering to plot more single‑story units where the grade differential exceeds industry comfort thresholds and to test architectural treatments and color schemes to reduce perceived mass. The applicant also suggested practical short‑term measures — such as capping fence tops or adding a small wood cap — that could reduce the safety risks posed by the gap until longer‑term solutions were finalized.

Staff and the applicant acknowledged tradeoffs: pushing single‑story homes onto lots often requires looser front setbacks or different driveway geometry, which can affect driveway slope and parking. Richmond American said it would provide revised plan options showing which lots could plausibly be single‑story and the resulting setback changes for the commission to review in August.